Episcopal church turns attention to climate change

The Reverend Margaret Bullitt-Jonas felt she had done a good job after presenting, back in 1989, one of her first sermons on the dangers of climate change.

"I actually felt a little smug, until a man approached me after the service and asked me, in a nice way, what the heck religion had to do with the environment," said the Episcopal priest.

Rev. Bullitt-Jonas said that attitude has changed, and that today more churches are open to preaching about the faithful's role in properly managing the world's natural resources.

For example, since taking the reins of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts about a year ago, Bishop Douglas J. Fisher has stressed the importance of the stewardship of the earth to his congregants.

Recently, he appointed Rev. Bullitt-Jonas to the new position of "missioner for creation care."

Rev. Bullitt-Jonas, who has been an environmental activist for at least two decades, assumes her post Jan. 2.

"Margaret will represent the diocese at environmental conferences and other gatherings so the church will have a seat at the table for one of the most crucial issues of our time," Bishop Fisher said. "She will help us to develop a strategy for action for the Lord's creation and help us to execute that plan."

Rev. Bullitt-Jonas said she and the bishop are still working out what specific tasks she will be undertaking.

But the tasks will include preaching at local Episcopal churches and meeting with other religious groups interested in environmental issues.

Church officials were able to fund the position for two years after an anonymous donor stepped forward with a gift.

"God gave humans dominion over the earth, but too many people believe they have a license to exploit the globe's resources," said Rev. Bullitt-Jonas.

She said more and more people of faith believe that climate change brought about by the burning of fossil fuels is making a significant impact on the world.

But there are still many, Rev. Bullitt-Jonas said, who believe there is no danger.

"It's like they are in a boat filling up with water, but they're not worried because the hole is not on the side that they are sitting in," she explained.

Rev. Bullitt-Jonas graduated from Stanford University in 1974 and received a doctoral degree in comparative literature in 1984 from Harvard University.

She became a priest after receiving her master's degree in divinity from the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge.

Rev. Bullitt-Jonas said she remembers that the mainstream press began reporting about the effects fossil fuels were having shortly after her ordination.

While serving at the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, which serves eastern portions of the state, she was appointed to a special church commission on the environment.

She was arrested in 2001 with other activists protesting outside the headquarters of the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C.

"The church has always been at the center of social issues, and climate change is one of the most important," she said. "Healing the earth and the salvation of souls go hand-in-hand."

Among her tasks, Rev. Bullitt-Jonas said she will be pushing for groups and communities to stop investing in fossil fuel companies.

She credits the United Church of Christ for stopping the practice, as well as the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.

The priest said she will be taking part in a panel discussion later in 2014 in Springfield whose goal is to get the state to drop fossil fuel firms from its financial portfolio.

"The world God gave us is very special, and I'm hoping to convince people to care for it," said Rev. Bullitt-Jonas. "I'll be happy, even if I can just convince people to use their bikes and to drive less."